Hinge



. Patented Apr. 4, I899. M. C. BERSTED.

HINGE.

(Application filed May 25, 1898.)

No. 622,32I.

{No Model.)

NITED STATES PAT NT .FFIC.

MARTIN o. BERSTED, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,321, dated April 4, 1899.

Application filed May 25,1898. Serial No. 681,666. (No model.)

To all whom a may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN O. BERSTED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hinges, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to hinges for general purposes, but more especially to that form of hinge employed on two-way-swinging doors, in which the door is held at an intermediate point or position by a pair of springs tending to throw the door in opposite directions, the hinge being of the double type or that form in which the door turnson different axeswhen swinging in opposite directions, one member of the hinge moving with the door while the.

door turns on the other.

One of the important objects of my invention is to provide improved means for readily altering the tension of the spring or springs or throwing it off entirely, as desired.

Another object is to provide an improved construction of hinge whereby the spring barrel or barrels may be composedv of thin material and the rotating parts of the hinge at the same time providedwith adequate bearings.

Another object is to provide a construction of hinge whereby the two barrels of a double form of hinge may be formed of sheet metal and virtually in one piece with the web that connects the barrels together, thus enabling me to provide a strong and cheap construction.

Another object is to so arrange the wings of the hinges, or those parts which are secured, respectively, to the door and the door-frame, that they may have flanges for overlapping the ragged edges of the mortises in which the wings are seated without unduly separating the edge of the door from its frame.

My invention also has for its object to provide certain improved details of construction of minor importance, as hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is aplan section of a door and door-frame provided with my improved hinge. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof,taken on the line 2 2,Fig.1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away,

showing the door removed, looking toward the door jamb or frame. Fig.4 is a plan view of the two hinge members, with the upper tightening caps or heads removed. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section of one of the spring-barrels and connected parts, taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the upper tightening heads or caps and the chuck which holds the upper end of the spring. Fig. '7 is a detail View of one of the spring-barrels and the portion ofthe connecting-web formed integrally therewith, showing it in the act of being interlocked with the companion web members on the opposite barrel shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the two barrels and connecting-web-members interlocked, and Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the interlocked web members, taken on the line 10 10, Fig. 9.

1 represents the door-frame; 2, the door; 3,

the hinge-wing, which is secured by screws 4 or other suitable devices to the door frame or jamb, and '5 the hinge-wing, similarly secured to the door 2. For the sake of bringing the edge of the door as close to the jamb or frame as possible it is customary in securing these wings 3 5 to the door and jamb, respectively, to mortise out the door and jamb, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to leave room between the door and jamb for the web 6, which connects the spring barrels 7 8 together. tising the door-jamb a ragged edge is invariably left at 9 10 at the upper and lower ends of the mortises on the jamb and door, respec tively, and in order that this ragged edge may be covered by the wings when the latter are secured in place I provide the latter with vertically-arranged flanges 11 12, which overlap the edges 9 10, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and in order that the presence of these flanges 11 12 may not unduly increase the distance between the door and the frame I stagger the flanges 11 12 with relation to each other, so that the upper one of the flanges 11 on the wing 3 will be located above the upper one of the flanges 12 on the wing 5 and the lower one of theflanges 12 is located below the lower one of the flanges 11, the spring-barrels 7 8 being preferably of the same length and set one a little above the other, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit of this staggered arrangement of the wings 3 and 5.

In thus mor- Each of the wings 3 at its upper end is formed with a hub 13, having a downwardlyextending flange 11, which encircles a washer 15,composed of vulcanite or othersuitable material for preventing the rattling of the parts should any lost motion occur. Each of these hubs 13 is provided witha central opening 16, through which passes a cylindrical shoulder 17, formed on the under side of the tighteninghead 18. The lower extremity of the shoulder17 is provided with a downwardly-extending squared or angular portion or other key 19, which engages in a complementary socket 20, formed in the upper face of a rotary plug 21, which constitutes the chuck for holding the upper end of the spring 22, located in the barrel, the upper end of the spring being engaged in a suitable cavity in the under side of the plug or chuck 21, as will be understood. IVhen the tightening-head 18 is turned by the insertion of a nail or other instrument in one of the sockets 22 or by other means, it will be seen that the spring 23 may be tightened or loosened, according to the direction of rotation, the lower end of the spring of course being held, as usual, by a plug 24, as will be presently described, and in order that the tension of the spring when 011cc acquired by the rotation of the head 18 may be maintained I provide the lower side of the head 18 with a locking-lug 25, which maybe engaged in any one of a series of perforations or sockets 26, formed in the face of the hub 13. Before the head 18 can be turned, however, it will of course be necessary to lift it until the lug 25 disengages from the socket 26, but the key or squared portion 19 being of greater length than the lug 25 and removably seated in the socket 20 of the plug or chuck 21 thelug 25 may be readily disengaged without danger of disconnecting the spring from the head 18, or, in other words, without danger of lifting the key 19 entirely out of its socket in the chuck 21. The head 18 is held down in place and prevented from accidentally lifting its lug 25 out of engagement with the hub 13 by a rod 27,

' which projects downwardly from the key 19 and extends through the chuck 21 and s prin gbarrel and has its lower end screw-threaded and held by a nut 28 at the lower end of the spring-barrel. \Vhen it is desired to alter the tension of the spring, the nut 28 may be loosened by inserting the instrument in the sockets 29 or by other means until the lug 25 may be lifted out of engagement with the sockets 26, such disengagement being effected, if desired, by simply forcing upwardly on the lower end of the nut 28. In order that the nut 28 may be locked against accidental turning on the rod 27, I provide a nut-lock, preferably consisting of a split screw 30, having its inner orsplit end tapered and threaded over the end of the rod 27, the screw 30 being located in a socket 31 in the nut 28 and the inner end of the socket being beveled, so that when the screw is forced inwardly its tapered end will engage the beveled inner end of the socket and cause the screw to firmlygrip the rod 27. Each of the wings 3 5 is also provided at its lower end with a hub 32, located below the barrel and just above the nut 28, the screwrod 27 of course passing through the hub 32 and holding it in place. The hub 32 is likewise provided with an upwardly-projccting marginal flange 33, which embraces a washer 34, like the washer 15, for relievingthe parts of wear.

The lower end of each of the barrels is closed by the plug 2t, which constitutes a bearing for the rod 27 and the hub 32, it being understood that with such a substantial bearing the spring-barrel may be composed of thin metal or material otherwise incapable of affording an adequate bearing for the rotating parts. This plug 21 is held against rotation by a lug 35, formed on or secured to the lower end of each of the spring-barrels and engaging in a suitable notch formed in a flange 36 on the plug 21, which prevents the plug from slipping into the barrel, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The upper end of each of the spring-barrels 7 8 is provided with a substantial bushing 37, which fits thereinto and surrounds the chuck 21 and is provided with a flange-38, which overlaps and rests upon the end of the barrel and is held against rotation by means of a tooth or lug 39, formed on the upper end of the barrel and engaging in a notch in the flange 38, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the chuck 21 being likewise provided with an overlapping flange 40, which prevents the chuck from slipping down into the bushing.

In order that the contraction of the spring 22 may not be confined to the mid-length thereof, I arrange therein a core 41, which is in the form of a sleeve, through which the rod 27 passes. This core may or may not be made in one piece with the chuck 21. \Vhen the spring is twisted or contracted, it will be understood that the intermediate convolutions will undergo the greatest amount of contraction; but when they come in contact with the core 41 their contraction will cease, and further twisting of the spring will cause the contraction of the end convolutions.

I will now describe the construction and method for attaching the barrels 7 8 together in such a manner that they may be composed of comparatively thin material and virtually in one piece with the connecting-web 6. Each barrel is composed of a sheet of thin material, which is bent at its mid-length in the form of a cylinder, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 to 10,and the extremities of the sheet are brought together in substantially parallel planes and provided with interlockingloops and tongues, so that the extremities of the sheet composing one barrel maybe interlocked and incorporated with the extremities of the sheet composing the other barrel and by being finally subjected to pressure converted into substantially an integral web. The extremity 42 of the strip composing the barrel 7 is a plain member and constitutes one outer surface of the web, and the extremity 43 of the strip composing the barrel 8 is a similar plain member constituting the outer surface of the opposite side of the web. The member 42 has a tooth or lug 44, which engages in a slit 45, formed in the other extremity 46 of the strip composing the barrel 8 at a point adjacent to the barrel, while the member 43 is provided with a similar lug 47, engaging in a similar slit 48, formed adjacent to the barrel 7, at the intersection thereof with its web member 49. The web members 46 49 of the barrels 8 7, respectively, are located between the web members 42 43, and one of them, the member 46, is provided with a number of tongues 50, which are slightly offset from the general plane of the member 46, and between these with tongues 51, so that when the members 46 and 49 are forced together the tongues 50 will overlap the member 49 on one side and the tongues 51 on the other. The member 49 is also provided with a number of straps or loops 52, struck up therefrom, so as to receive the tongues 51, and'thus more thoroughly incorporate the two web members. Vhen the parts are forced together longitudinally of the tongues, the lugs 44 47 will engage in their respective slits 45 48 and the ends of the members 42 43 will abut squarely against the barrels 7 8. The edge of the member 43 is provided with a flange 53 on the lower side of the web and the edge of the member 42 with a corresponding flange 54 at the upper edge of the web, these flanges projecting in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 10, so that the one on one of the outside members will overlap the edge of the other outside member, and vice versa. After the parts have been assembled, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the web is subjected to pressure in such a manner as to fold the'flanges 53 54 down against the web members 46 42, respectively, and also mash the inner interlocked members down into substantially the same planeand securely incorporate them together, as shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A spring-hinge having in combination a spring-barrel, the spring-chuck 21 located therein, having a socket in the outer end thereof, the hinge-wing having a hub provided with sockets, a tightening-head having a tooth or lug adapted to engage in said sockets in the hub and a key of greater length than said tooth adapted to engage in the socket in said spring-chuck, a spring in said barrel having connection with said chuck and means for preventing the accidental disengagement of the tooth on said tighteninghead, substantially as set forth.

2. A spring-hinge having in combination a spring barrel, a spring chuck journaled therein and having the socket 20 in its outer end, the hinge-wing having a hub, a tightening-head having a key engaging in said socket and said head also having detachable connection with said hub capable of disengagement before the disengagement of said key from said socket 20, a spring arranged in said barrel and having connection with said chuck, a threaded rod secured to said tighteninghead and passing through said'barrel and a nut detachably secured on said threaded rod at the outer end of the barrel, substantially as set forth.

3. A spring-hingehaving in combination a spring-barrel, a spring-chuck arranged in one end thereof and having the socket 20, the hinge-wing having a hub arranged at the outer end of said spring-chuck, a tighteninghead having detachable connection with said hub and being provided with a key seated in said socket, aspring located in the barrel and having connection with said chuck, athreaded rod projecting from said tightening-head through said chuck and protruding at the opposite end of the barrel, a nut threaded on said protruding end of the rod and means for locking said nut, substantially as set forth.

4. A spring-hinge having in combination a spring-barrel, the hinge-wing having hubs located at the ends of said barrel, a tighteninghead having detachable connection with one of said hubs, a spring located in said barrel and having operative connection with said tightening-head, a threaded rod secured to said tightening head and protruding from said barrel, a nut threaded on the protruding end of said rod and having a conical cavity, a split nut threaded on said rod in said cavity and having a conical end adapted to fit into said conical cavity, substantially as set forth.

5. A spring-hinge having in combination a spring-barrel, a bushing located in the end of said barrel and having a flange overlapping the edgethereoflsaid flange being held against rotation on said barrel, a spring-chuck located in said bushing and having a flange overlapping the flange of the bushing, a spring secured to said chuck, the hinge-wing and means for detachably securing said hingewing to said spring-chuck, substantially as set forth.

6. A spring-hinge having in combination a spring-barrel, a bushing located in the end thereof and having an exterior flange, said flange and barrel being provided with interlocking teeth and notches, a spring-chuck located in said bushing and having a flange overlapping the flange of the bushing, a spring located in said barrel and connected with said chuck, a hinge-wing and means for detach ably connecting said hinge-wing with said spring-chuck, substantially as set forth.

7. A spring-hinge having in combination a spring-barrel, a bushing secured in one end thereof, a spring-chuck located in said bushing and taking its bearing thereon, the springholding plug 24 located in the opposite end of the barrel and having a flange overlapping the end of the barrel and being held therein against rotation, a spring having one end secured to the plug 2% and the other to said chuck, the hinge-wing, means for detachably connecting said hinge-wing with said springchuck and means for binding said springchuek and plug Bl in position, substantially as set forth.

8. A spring-hinge having in combination the staggered hinge-wings having the outwardly-extending flanges for overlapping the edges of the mortises in the door and frame respectively, and means for supporting and journaling said hinge-wings, substantially as set forth.

9. A spring-hinge having in combination two spring-barrels having interlocked members constituting a web connecting said barrels together, the hinge-wings and means for operatively supporting said wings upon said barrels, substantially as set forth.

10. A spring-hinge having in combination two spring-barrels having web members projecting therefrom, said members being provided with interlocking tongues and loops, the hinge-wings and means for operatively supporting said wings upon said barrels, substantially as set forth.

11. A spring-hinge having in combination two spring-barrels each having two web members projecting therefrom, one of the web members on each of said barrels being provided with interlocking devices for engaging each other and said interlocked members being assembled between the other two members, the hinge-wings, and means for operatively supporting said wings upon said barrels, substantially as set forth.

12. A spring-hinge having in combination two spring-barrels each having two Web members projecting therefrom, one of said Web members on each of said barrels being provided with devices for interlocking with one of the web members on the other barrel, the teeth or lugs 44 47 on the outside of the web members, the slits 45 48 for receiving said teeth or lugs, the hinge-wings, and means for operatively supporting said wings upon said barrels, substantially as set forth.

13. A spring-hinge having in combination two spring-barrels each having two web members projecting therefrom and provided with interlocking devices, each of the outside web members being provided with a flange overlapping the edge of the outside web memberon the opposite side, the hinge-wings, and means for operatively supporting said Wings upon said barrels, substantially as set forth.

MARTIN C. BERS'IED. \Vitnesses:

EDNA B. JOHNSON, -F. A. HQPKINS. 

